Media Censorship in Rwanda- Assignment #2- Anthony Mendola

Monroe Price’s article on Media and Sovereignty speaks about how the government needs to regulate the power given to the media. This creates a sense of order and security. The government doesn’t want to be viewed as weak in the eyes of its people. As more technological advances occur and media is spread on different frontiers, the government must constantly monitor the information being fed to its people. The internet is one of the hardest forms of media to control to date. With new technologies like blogging and twitter, it is very easy for information and conspiracy theories to spread globally.

Although, many believe that the government shouldn’t censor media, there are some instances where they should. Recently during the presidential election in Rwanda, their government silenced independent media. They had a legitimate reason too ever since the 1994 Rwandan genocide where hate media played a big role. Radio and newspaper journalists had spread false hatred which led to 800,000 being slaughtered. A week prior to the August 2010 election, the Rwandan government banned 30 radio and newspapers. I believe that instead of totally censoring all media, they should guarantee freedom of the press while still protecting its people from violence. By totally shutting out the media and not letting people voice their opinions will cause resentment among Rwandans.

4 responses so far ↓

I’m happy someone chose to write about Rwanda. This is the exemplary case many people point to in justifying government control of media, over “the marketplace of ideas.” When such scenarios are considered, it makes the issue of state control over media much more complex, conceptually and normatively. Please add your name somewhere in the post so I can give you credit.